04/22/2026
Obituary for Nina Richardson Devantery -
St. Mary’s, Georgia—Nina Richardson Devantery, 89, of 206 Osprey Circle, passed away at home on February 28th, 2026 with hospice and family care following a long illness of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Nina lived in Newfields, New Hampshire, until 2017 from where she and her husband Rob moved to Agape Farm in South Berwick, Maine with daughter Heidi and husband Paul Lewis. In 2023 Heidi, Nina and Paul moved to St. Mary’s, Georgia, to be near Paul’s parents. Nina, known as Mema by her “greats and grands” was born to Phyllis and William Carroll in 1936 in Plainfield, New Jersey.
Throughout her childhood, Nina and her family moved often until settling in Old Greenwich, Connecticut where she learned to sail on the Long Island Sound. She graduated from Greenwich High School in 1951. In the fall, Nina attended Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. Following freshman year, Nina transferred to Gordon College, in Massachusetts where she met, and married a seminary student at Gordon. Following years, they moved to Henniker, New Hampshire. As a pastor’s wife, Nina devoted time to the church and community, often opening their home as a safe and welcoming space for those in need. Nina returned to college at New England College, where she graduated magna cm laude in 1972 with a degree in education, all while managing a busy parsonage household and raising three growing children. Following this chapter, she and her first husband parted ways, and she began a new path, dedicating her life to a career in education.
Nina began her work as a substitute teacher and accepted an English teaching position at Epping High School. Nina and the love of her life, Rob Devantery, also a teacher, bought their Victorian farmhouse in Newfields, New Hampshire where they married in their back yard August of 1978. After fifteen years of teaching at Epping High School, Nina accepted a teaching position at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire, where Rob taught math, science and then physics. After Nina retired as an English teacher, she taught ELS part-time at Newmarket High School where she continued making an impact supporting students.
Nina and Rob Devantery created a beautiful home through the years, and welcomed many friends and family members to move into their home through life transitions. Nina and Rob loved the arts and ran a small frameshop called Devantery Frames helping many artists around New England. Nina loved the arts, culture, theater and baseball. As season ticket holders, she and Rob loved to attend the Boston Red Sox games and watch her favorite outfielder, Johnny Damon. Often, playbills were strewn across their kitchen table from their latest outings to Bean Town.
Both Nina and Rob shared a love of cross-country camping, traveling with their dog to explore national parks and historic landmarks, and delighting in sending daily emails home, filled with photos and stories from their adventures. Throughout her life, Nina drew inspiration in her writing from the natural beauty that surrounded her—she especially loved the songs of whales, and songbirds. Some of their cross country camping trips included Native American history, most especially the Ancestral Pueblo people of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, and Bryce Canyon where Nina drew inspiration to write and journal. Her poetry held a reverence for nature and cultural stories lived long ago.
Nina was an active member of the Exeter Congregational Church, served as deacon, volunteered on many committees, sang in the choir, was a member of “Journey Song”, a group still active in bringing music to those in hospice. She has helped tirelessly with numerous church suppers and fundraisers. As one friend shared, “Her down-to-earth approach and genuine kindness made projects go smoothly, and people feel appreciated.” Nina was also known for her generosity, compassion, and empathy. Many friends and family members who received her handwritten letters, notes and cards, remember them as heart felt treasures in their hands.
Outside of her many interests, Nina’s greatest joy was her family, and nothing meant more to her than gathering loved ones close. Her dining room table was the heart of her home, where meals were shared, laughter filled the air, and stories passed from one generation to the next. Around that table, she created countless moments of connection: tutoring her children and grandchildren, hosting spirited games of “Pounce”, and the sweet Sunday tradition of sharing donuts after church. Soft strains of music, from the Carpenters, classical pieces, The Beatles, and her beloved musicals, often floated in the background, adding warmth and joy to every gathering. It was more than just a table, it was a place of belonging, where everyone who sat down felt welcomed, valued, and loved. Nina had a rare and beautiful gift for making people feel at home within moments, and her unwavering devotion, compassion, and loyalty to her family shone brightly in every gathering. It was a quality she so naturally instilled in her children, grandchildren, and those closest to her–her legacy of love living on, in the way they care for others.
Nina is survived by her two daughters Katrina Daigle (Robert) Newmarket, NH, Heidi Lewis (Paul) St. Marys, GA, son Hans Schule Kingsland, GA, brother-in-law Alden Smith Dexter, ME, brother-in-law James Devantery (Helen) Surprise, AZ, and nine grandchildren, Lukas Daigle (Alyssa), Katelyn Souphakhot (J.J.), Riley Schule (Haley), Brielle Schule, Benjamin Taylor and Emmarose Taylor, Kelsi Allen (Ayrton), Ella Lewis and Maryjane “MJ” Lewis, three great grandchildren Rylan Souphakhot, Kierra Souphakhot, and Eowyn Allen, nieces Phyllis Luce and Sarah Luce, and nephews, Timothy Luce (Carol) and Alden “Skip” Smith (Perla). Nina is preceded in death by her sisters Nancy Luce (Philip), Cynthia Smith (Alden), and her parents, Phyllis and William Carroll of Kittery, Maine. A celebration of her Life will be held 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 7th, 2026 at the Exeter Congregational Church.
Visit www.kentandpelczarfh.com to sign an online guestbook.